Credor GCLP989 Raden - Limited Edition of 120
Model: Credor GCLP989 “Sakura Fubuki 桜吹雪” – Raden Spring Drive Limited Edition
Overview:
The Credor GCLP989 “Sakura Fubuki” is an exceptionally rare Spring Drive Credor combining traditional Japanese lacquer work with one of the most poetic dial designs produced by the brand.
Sakura Fubuki, or 「桜吹雪」, translates literally to “Cherry Blossom Blizzard,” describing the beautiful scene created when large numbers of cherry blossom petals are caught and scattered through the wind.
Credor recreates this scene against a deep black Urushi lacquer dial, using traditional Raden 「螺鈿」 mother-of-pearl inlay and Maki-e 「蒔絵」 lacquer techniques to depict cherry blossoms swirling through the darkness beneath a crescent moon.
Only 120 examples were produced, with every Raden dial individually crafted by hand.
History:
The GCLP989 was released in 2018 as the second collaboration between Credor and Yamada Heiando 「山田平安堂」, following the success of their first collaborative lacquer-dial model in 2016.
Founded in 1919, Yamada Heiando specializes in traditional Japanese lacquerware and holds the distinction of being a purveyor to Japan's Imperial Household. For the GCLP989, these traditional decorative techniques were miniaturized onto the surface of a wristwatch dial.
Raden is a centuries-old Japanese decorative technique in which thin pieces of shell are cut and embedded into a lacquered surface. Credor explains that the shell fragments are attached to the dial with lacquer, covered with additional lacquer and subsequently polished back until the shell becomes visible again. Each GCLP989 dial was completed individually by hand.
The resulting mother-of-pearl elements represent cherry blossoms being carried through the night sky, while Maki-e lacquer work forms the crescent moon. Rather cleverly, that crescent moon is not purely decorative—it simultaneously serves as the watch's Spring Drive power reserve indicator.
Specifications and Condition:
Overall: Great Condition
Case: Great Condition
Crystal: Clean
Dial: Clean
Movement: Running Well
Bracelet/Strap: Handmade aftermarket
Box/Papers: No
Year: 2018
Limited Edition: 120 Pieces
Original Retail Price: ¥1,000,000 + Tax
Collaboration: Yamada Heiando
Movement:
Credor Caliber 7R87
Manual-Winding Spring Drive
Dimensions:
38.0mm Case Diameter
9.7mm Thickness
Design Details:
Black Urushi Lacquer Dial
Traditional Raden 「螺鈿」 Mother-of-Pearl Inlay
Traditional Maki-e 「蒔絵」 Lacquer Work
“Sakura Fubuki” Cherry Blossom Blizzard Theme
Mother-of-Pearl Cherry Blossom Petals
Maki-e Crescent Moon
Crescent Moon Power Reserve Indicator
Big Date Display
Hand-Crafted Raden Dial
Closing Note:
The GCLP989 is one of those watches that perfectly demonstrates what makes the more obscure side of Credor so interesting.
Against its jet-black Urushi lacquer dial, fragments of iridescent mother-of-pearl appear to float across the surface like cherry blossom petals being carried through the night sky. Because Raden uses natural shell, the individual elements react dramatically to light, shifting between shades of pink, blue, green and violet depending on the viewing angle.
The crescent moon is perhaps the most clever part of the design. Created using Maki-e lacquer work, it initially appears to be another component of the moonlit Sakura Fubuki scene. In reality, it doubles as the Spring Drive power reserve indicator, allowing a functional complication to become an integral part of the artwork.
There is also an interesting contrast between the techniques used above and below the dial. Raden and Maki-e represent centuries-old Japanese decorative arts, while underneath sits the Caliber 7R87 Spring Drive—a uniquely modern Japanese approach to watchmaking. Credor describes the model itself as a fusion of traditional craftsmanship and advanced technology.
The 7R87 is also a particularly appropriate movement for a watch depicting petals floating through the air. Spring Drive's continuously gliding seconds hand moves around the dial without the conventional ticking motion of a mechanical escapement, complementing the sense of movement already created by the scattered Raden blossoms.
Although Credor's design will never appeal to every collector, watches such as the GCLP989 demonstrate just how creative the brand has been when combining traditional Japanese craftsmanship with unconventional watchmaking.
With Credor now receiving substantially greater international exposure, these older, extremely small-production artisan models are particularly interesting to revisit. Whether that translates into greater future collectability is impossible to know, but with only 120 pieces produced, individually hand-crafted Raden dials and an official collaboration with Yamada Heiando, the GCLP989 represents a fascinating period of Credor that was largely unknown outside Japan when originally released.